What You Didn't Know About Chick-Fil-A's Daddy-Daughter Night

This is a question for all our female readers out there: What did you get your dad for Father's Day? Maybe you got him something for the outdoors, or maybe some new tools for whatever projects he finds himself starting. Maybe you took him out to eat at his favorite restaurant. Whatever you did, if your gift was something thoughtful, we're sure your dad loved it. The bond between a father and daughter, just like all familial bonds, is something special, and when fathers and daughters have a strong bond, the things they can do are impressive.

QSR Magazine tells us how a father-daughter duo who operates a chain of McDonald's restaurants in Philadelphia work to encourage African-American business owners to have a positive impact on their communities and each other. In 2015, BBC News reported that businesses owned and managed by a father and daughter team were on the rise, ranging from culinary companies to fashion.

For Chick-fil-A, a restaurant well-known for its focus on values, "daddy-daughter" time is something worth celebrating. It's so important, in fact, that there's even a night that fathers and daughters will be welcomed into their local Chick-fil-A with a red carpet and open arms.

According to Chick-fil-A's history, the idea of a "Daddy-Daughter Date night" was born at a Chick-fil-A in Olathe, Kansas back in 2008. The operator, Jeff Rouse, came up with the idea so that dads could spend some extra quality time with their daughters, taking a break from work and the world at large to enjoy a nice dinner date together.

As Chick-fil-A notes, these father-daughter events are treated as something special. The tables at each restaurant are decorated with fresh flowers, a red carpet is rolled out, and on some occasions there are carriage rides and live music. Fathers and daughters alike are encouraged to get dressed in their finest attire — it is a date after all — and dads who want to brush up on ways to make their little girl's night special can read Chick-fil-A's handy guide on how to make the most out of their night.

Even the pandemic couldn't stop daddy-daughter date night, it seems. Mix 105.1 reports that in 2021, Chick-fil-A offered take home date night kits to customers, with each kit containing a variety of crafts, games, coloring pages, and a "special surprise." 

Admittedly, these activities are geared more towards fathers with younger girls, so it's unlikely fathers with older daughters may not attend. This isn't to say that dads and daughters of all ages aren't welcome to share lunch together at Chick-fil-A, of course. Or, you can make your old man his favorite Chick-fil-A orders at home using these copycat recipes.